Tube-splicing machine



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Dec. 4, 1928.

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' H. D. STEVENS TUBE SLIcINe MACHINE Filed March 15, 1923 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 4, `l92ii8.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE.

HORACE n. STEVENS, 0E AKR-0N, omo, ASSIGNOR To THE EIEEsToNE TIRE AND RUE-y BER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TUBE-SILIGING-k MACHINE.

Application med Maren 1,5', 1923. serial No. 625,310.

This invention relates to the .art of manu? facturing inner tube-s for pneumatic tires or the like, although it is not necessarily so limited but may have a broader application. In the manufacture of these articles, it isV customary to vulcanize the tube into a single length with the ends of the tube free. It is then necessary to unite the two ends of the tube `to make it continuous or endless.

It is the purpose of this invention to construct an apparatus which will facilitate the insert-ion of the one end of the tube within the other. This act is usuallyperformed after both ends of the tube have been bufed and cemented and while the cement is in a The `apparatus here shown. will assist ma-r terially in the operation of joining the ends of the tube and has advantages of simplicity in construction and operation'.

In the drawings accompanying Athis application one form or embodiment ofthe invention is shown, it being obvious that other forms may be made without departing froin the essential features ofthe invention as described and claimed.k

InV the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a tube splicing apparatus constructed in'accordance with the invention; y

Figure 2 is a front elevation ofthe upper or working parts ofzthe device;

Figure 3 is a plan View;

Figure 4 is a. cross-section on the line Ll--Li of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a'section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1, showing the manner in which the two ends of the tube are nested.

The apparatus shown herein comp-rises a base or platform 1 which, for conveniencev of operation, may be mounted on rollers or casters 2, so that it canbe moved about the shop to the location of the tubes to be spliced.

From the platform 1 rises anupright 3 which supports a table 1 which carries the working Y portions of the apparatus7 an upright arm or stand 5 at the rear thereof being` designed to supportthe main portion of the tube being operated upon.

To the upper surface of the table 4 is secured abase plate G towhich are attached two bracket-s 7, the arms of which extend upward-4 ly at a slight forward inclination to the base. To the upper ends of the arm is'secured a rod or bar S'which in turn carries a horizontal guide plate 9, the upper surface of which is formed with a recessed guideway 10. A second rod or bar 11 is secured tothe under side of t-he `plate 9 in parallel relationship to the bar 8. 1

Slidably mounted in the guide plate 9 kis a reciprocable slide 12, depending from the Linder side lof which is a. pin 13 which passes through a slotf14 in the plate 9. I The pin13 is received in any one of a number of holes 15 formed in a plate 1G, which extends parallel to the slide 12 and is formed with sockets 17 at its ends.` A rope or cable 18 is secured t-o the socket at one end of the .plate 16 and a second rope'or cable 19 is attached to the other socket. e f

The rope 18 passes over a sheave or pulley 20 supported in downwardly.curved ar1ns`v21 on the bars 8 and 11 and thence over a pulley 22 supported in brackets 23 on the base plate 6, to 'an adjustable link 211:, which is attached to a foot treadle 25, pivot-ed on the base 1. The cable 19 passes over a pulley 26, located similarly to the-pulley 20 but at the opposite side of the apparatus and is attached to a coil spring 27, which isy also secured 4to the base. The arrangement is such that the slide 1 2 is maintained at the left hand end of the guideway or at' its extreme expanded position, but can be moved to the right or contracted position by operation o f the foot treadle.

To open up one end of the tube, two pairs of fingers are provided., one pair of which is rigid with the guide plate and the other pair of which is secured to the slide. The construction of these fingers substantially the same. Each comprises a straight arm 28 shield or deflector for the tube.

and a second arm 29 above and parallel thereto, the second arm being carried from the first by a U-shaped bracket 30 and having a stop 29a to regulate the position of the tube. On the sides of each arm at the points Where the tube is engaged are rollers `31,4 sothat the tube may be readily Withdrawn from the arms. The outward movement of the slide is regulated by a stop in 32, which may be adjusted in any oneof) the holes 33on the side of the guide and which pin contacts the member 28 on the slide. Y

In the operation of the device, the the tube, which is to be positioned exteriorly of the other in-the making of the splice and which is buffed and cemented on its interior surface,is placed over the fingers, which have been caused to approach onel another by the operation of the foot treadle.` The treadle is now released and the spring brings the fingers to their expanded position as determined by the pin 32. This end of the tube is now held open and the other end of the tube is inserted and the treadle is again depressed, permitting the outer end of the tube to contract over the inner. The tube may now be withdrawn from the fingers, the rollers 31 permitting and assisting in such movement.

It'is advisable toprevent contact'of the outer cemented surface of the entering tube end withthe inner surface of the receiving tube end until they are in the desired position. For this purpose I make use of a novel and simple form of shield or deflector such as shown in the drawings. This comprises a light, flexiblesheet metal plate 34 which is preferably attached to the rigid fingers and is so formed that it has a permanent bend therein, the free end of the plate projecting under the movable fingers; The tendency of the shield 34 is to bend or arch upwardly, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, at whatever position the expanding fingers are located, and this upward ben ing affords an effective By this means the entering tube end is elevated above the receiving tube end so that contact between the ends of the tube is prevented.`

It is believed that the operation of the `device will have been apparent from the description which has been given.AV The apparatus assists to a considerable degree in the assembling of the ends of the tube, the fingers holding the receiving end of the tubefex-` panded until the other end enters therein. he defiector acts'as a shieldto prevent contact of the tube ends until the proper moment for release of the expanded end. The device is adjustable by the various means described to operate upon all sizes of tubes.

It is obvious that changes and modifications may be made informs of the invention, but, as I believe I am the first to -provide an apparatus of the character set forth in hold the end of the tube distended and unobstructed to receive the other end of t-he l tube therein; end of 2. In a. machine for the uses and purposes `set forth the combination with a base plate,

of tube end engaging means adapted to be inserted withinthe open eind of a tubeand separated to distend the end of the tubein position to receive the otherend ofthe tube therein, and means to hold said members apart after the tube hasbeen placed over them.

3. In a machine for the uses and pur oses set forth, the combination with a base, o tube end engaging fingers insertible within the end of the tube and movable toward and away from one another, yielding means adapted to hold the fingers in their furthest expanded position, and adjustable limiting means for determining the expanse of said fingers.

4. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, the combination with tube end engaging fingers, of means to separate said fingers in a lateral direction and a shield pro` jecting between the fingers in front of one edge of the tube. y

5. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, the combination with tube endengaging fingers, of means to separate said fingers in a lateral direction andan arcuate flexible shield projecting between the fingers in front of one edge of the tube.

6. A machine for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising the combination of tube end engaging fingers, means to separate said fingers in a lateral direction, yielding means to hold said fingers at their outer limits, and a fiexible metal shield attached to one of said fingers bending upward in front of one edge of the tube and depressed bythe other finger.

`7. In a machine for splicing inner tubes, thecombination of a base plate, tube end engaging fingers insertible within the end of the tube 'and movable toward and away from `one another, rollers on thefingers, and means to move the fingers.

8. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means to distend `one end of a tube in position to receive the other end of the tube therein, and means to prevent contact between the two ends until they are properly positioned.

9. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means to engage the end ofra tube, and means to move said engaging means to distend the end of the tube in posii tion to receive the other end of the tube therein. Y

10. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means .to engage one end ot a tube, and means to move said engagmg;l

means laterally to open upL the engaged end and provide a passageway in which the other end of the tube may be positioned.

1l.. A machine of the class described, hav- 10 mgm combination, means adapted to be 1nbe inserted between the distending means and `15 into the distended end of the tube.

HORACE D. STEVENS. 

